From the USCCB: Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent.  Ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. 

The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas.

The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.

Advent marks the beginning of the New Liturgical Year for the Catholic Church. It makes sense that we would start our year at the beginning of Christ's life, and actually, we start Advent a little before Christ's birth, in a time of preparation for receiving Christ into the world. 

According to the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops, Advent comes from the Latin "ad-venire,' which means 'to come." Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and is a time of waiting and preparation for the Church in two ways:

1) We prepare and wait for our celebration of Christ's coming into the world as a baby on Christmas
2) We prepare and wait for Christ's second coming at the end of time

The daily readings at Mass reflect this waiting and preparation, setting the stage for Christ's birth. The Jewish people had waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah, and Christ's birth fulfils the words of many of the Old Testament prophets. 

Like the Jews, we await the second coming of Christ. In the meantime, we must convert our hearts and our lives, orienting them away from sin and turning toward the Lord, living as he taught us to live. 

One way to prepare ourselves is through prayer. Spend some time these next few weeks praying and reflecting on your life and what you ought to change to convert your heart for Jesus Christ. Another way we can prepare is to confess our sins and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Church strongly recommends that the faithful make a good confession before the Christmas celebration. This Advent, we are blessed to have several Communal Penance Services occurring throughout the Tecumseh/Clinton area, allowing us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our fellow Catholic brothers and sisters.

For more about Advent, how to prepare for Advent, and for Advent traditions, please check out the following resources:

1) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
2) Catholic News Agency
3) EWTN

Our very own Brendan Hagan helped create Life Teen's 2019 Advent Companion. Check it out here: